ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the features of methylation in the promoter region of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) gene and the association between gene promoter methylation and G6PD deficiency.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of G6PD in 130 children with G6PD deficiency. Sixty-five children without G6PD deficiency served as the control group. The methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting curve analysis and bisulfite PCR sequencing were used to analyze gene promoter methylation in 22 children with G6PD deficiency and low G6PD mRNA expression. The G6PD gene promoter methylation was analyzed in 44 girls with normal G6PD mRNA expression (7 from G6PD deficiency group and 37 from control group).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-two (16.9%) children with G6PD deficiency had relatively low mRNA expression of G6PD; among whom, 16 boys showed no methylation, and 6 girls showed partial methylation. Among the 44 girls with normal G6PD mRNA expression, 40 showed partial methylation, and 4 showed no methylation (1 case in the G6PD group and 3 cases in the control group).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Gene promoter methylation is not associated with G6PD deficiency in boys. Girls have partial methylation or no methylation in the G6PD gene, suggesting that the methylation may be related to G6PD deficiency in girls.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , DNA Methylation , Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase , Genetics , Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency , Genetics , Promoter Regions, Genetic , RNA, Messenger , Sex CharacteristicsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficiency of one-step multiplex RT-PCR for identifying four common fusion transcripts (TEL/AML1, E2A/PBX1, MLL/AF4 and BCR/ABL) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Total RNA was extracted from bone marrow samples of 76 children who were newly diagnosed with ALL between January 2003 and December 2010. These RNAs were analyzed for TEL/AML1, E2A/PBX1, MLL/AF4 and BCR/ABL by one-step multiplex RT-PCR or common nested-multiplex PCR. The PCR products were confirmed by DNA sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TEL/AML1 was found in 12 cases (the length of products was 298 bp in 9 cases and 259 bp in 3 cases), E2A/PBX1 was found in 3 cases (the length of products was 373 bp), BCR/ABL was found in 1 case (the length of products was 2 124 bp), and MLL/AF4 was found in 7 cases (the length of products was 427 bp in 1 case and 673 bp in 6 cases) using one-step multiplex RT-PCR combined with DNA sequencing. The results were consistent with those using common nested-multiplex PCR.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>One-step multiplex RT-PCR may be another alternative for detection of common fusion transcripts in children with ALL.</p>
Subject(s)
Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit , Genetics , Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl , Genetics , Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction , Methods , Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein , Genetics , Oncogene Proteins, Fusion , Genetics , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma , Genetics , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Methods , Sequence Analysis, DNAABSTRACT
This article summarizes the pathogenesis of hypercoagulability in β thalassemia patients, including platelet activation, alteration of red blood cell membranes, abnormal expression of adhesion molecules on vascular endothelial cells and iron overload. Clinical evidence, clinical manifestations of hypercoagulable state and thrombosis in β thalassemia and the effect of splenectomy on hypercoagulable state were reviewed. Strategies to prevent and treat the thromboembolic events in β-thalassemia intermedia are also discussed, including transfusion therapy to raise hemoglobin levels, avoidance or delay of splenectomy and a number of treatments in the exploration.